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Natural killer cells, also known as NK cells, are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte critical to the innate immune system.They are a kind of large granular lymphocytes [1] [2] (LGL), and belong to the rapidly expanding family of known innate lymphoid cells (ILC) and represent 5–20% of all circulating lymphocytes in humans. [3]
One of these changes are to the uterine natural killer cells (uNK). NK cells, part of the innate immune system, are cytotoxic and responsible for attacking pathogens and infected cells. However, the number and type of receptors the uNK cells contain during a healthy pregnancy differs compared to an abnormal pregnancy. [18]
Uterine natural killer cells have an important role during pregnancy in both, humans and in mice. However, unlike natural killer cells, Uterine natural killer cells do not have a fundamental role in the innate immune system and therefore, are not cytotoxic. [6] Throughout pregnancy, there is adaptation of the uterus to allow the growth of the ...
OvaScience Co-Founders' Review of Female Infertility Published in Cell Metabolism -- Findings Highlight that Egg Quality Decreases With Age Due to Reduced Mitochondrial Function -- CAMBRIDGE, Mass ...
Natural killer cells misinterpret the fetal cells as cancer cells and attack them. An individual that presents with reproductive autoimmune failure syndrome has unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and repetitive miscarriages due to elevated levels of antinuclear antibodies circulating. [16]
These cells are not normally found in the testis, even during inflammatory conditions. The lack of B-lymphocytes in the testis is significant, since these are the antibody-producing cells of the immune system. Since anti-sperm antibodies can cause infertility, it is important that antibody-producing B-lymphocytes are kept separated from the testis.
In cancers, a Killer Activation Receptor (KAR), located on the surface of the NK cell, binds to certain molecules which only appear on cells that are undergoing stress situations. In humans, this KAR is called NKG2D and the molecules it recognizes MICA and MICB. This binding provides a signal which induces the NK cell to kill the target cell. [9]
In the female genital tract is mainly expressed in EECs (cultured endometrial epithelial cells) and secreted into the amniotic fluid, endometrium/decidua and maternal serum. Glycodelin-A has contraceptive and immunosuppressive functions, due to the fact that suppresses Natural Killer cells, achieving the prevention of the maternal rejection of ...